Journal box



:April 23, 1935. GQHF. coucH i JOURNAL Box 2 Sheets-Sheet I Filed Feb. 4, 1950 qkm E (aw/5 April 23, 1935. G F, COUCH 1,998,980

' JOURNAL Box Filed Feb. 4, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL BOX Glenn F. Couch, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Applieatiqn February 4, 1930, seri-.t1 No. 425,891

12 Claims.

This invention relates to journal boxes, and more particularly to a lid for closing Ythe opening formed in the outer face thereof.

.The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is to provide an` articulated lid .comprising a cover member, a hood member, an actuating member, and resilient means disposed between said hood and actuating member for urging. the latter against the hinge lug of a journal bex for holding the lid in open or closed position.

.Another objectof my invention is to provide a journal box lid assembly comprising a hood adapted to be pivoted to the journal box, acover pivoted to the hood, and a lever pivoted to the la hood at a different point, spring means .being provided between'said lever and hood for urging the lever into operative .engagement with the hinge lug. f

A further object of my invention is to provide .20 a journal box lid assembly 4comprising a cover member, a hood member pivotally connected to a lug outstanding from the outer face .of'said cover member, .and a lever formed with trunnions interlocking inY pockets provided in the hood for pivotally connecting the lever thereto, .a spring being normally disposed between the hood .and lever for urging said lever into opera- .tive engagement with the hinge lug.

Other objects and 4advantagesof the invention .3.0 relating-to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claimsz- Figure l is a front elevational View of a journal box lid made in accordance with one embodiment of my invention and showing the same applied to a journal box.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 ,of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows. Y

Fig. 3y is a .vertical sectional view .of the hood r and lever detached from the cover, said View 4f being taken .on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the manner of applying and removing the lever with respect to the hood. 1 Fig. 4 is a'detail elevational view of the top or inner surfacey of the lever detached Afrom the hood.'

Fig. 5 isa detail elevational view of the inner .surface of the hood separated from the cover V.5,5 and lever. f

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, there is shown diagrammatically a portion of a journal box I provided upon its rooffor top wall 2 adjacent the forward or outer edge 3 thereof with a hinge lug YIl which is apertured, as at 5, to receive a hinge pintle or pin 6 for connecting the articulated lid or lid assembly l thereto. Said lug is further provided with faces 8 and 9 by which, through the ,cooperation of parts hereinafter described, the lid 'l is maintained in .either .closed or open position. Said lid comprises a cover .or closure portion i0, a hood or housing portion Il, a lever or actuating member I2, preferablyv substantially 'stra-ight, and re- A. silient means 4I3 which, in the present embodiment, comprises a coilor helical spring.

. The cover or cover Eplate Iil is preferably formed as a substantially at plate, the `marginal edges I4 of which are adapted to overlie the marginal edges I5 of the journal box opening i6. These .edges are preferably provided with a flange or beading .I1 to reinforce or strengthen said cover. Depending from the lower edge .of the plate or cover I0 is preferably provided a lug or lip IS by means `of which the lid may be moved to open or closed position. The/cover It is embossed Vslightly outwardly, as indicated at I9, and preferably extending from approximately the central portion of the embossment i9, is a boss or lug 2U apertured, as indicated at 2 I, and receiving a rivet f or other suitable connecting means 22 which extends through corresponding apertures 23 adja .cent the lower end of the hood or housing member I I.

The hood member Il comprises laterally extending portions 24 which are adapted to overlie thev upper edge of the cover ID when said hood is connected thereto by the connecting means 22 and also the adjacent portions of the wall 2 of 40 the journal box I on opposite sides of the pivot lug. v4. Extending upwardly beyond the upper faces of the portions 24, and preferably integral therewith, are spaced ears 25 and 26 which are adapted to lie on opposite sides of the lug 4.- The 45 central portion 2 of the hood is preferably raised v above the side portions 24 thereof and the spaced ears 25 and 26. At the lower end of the central portion 21 are preferably provided inwardly extending bosses 28 apertured at 23, as previously 50 referred to, for receiving the connecting means A22 for pivotally connecting the hood and cover. Relative angling .between said hood and cover is limited by the sides 29 of the raised portion 21, the edges of which extend toward the face of the cover I3, providing only the limited clearance desired, as indicated at 3B and 3I.

In order to provide for movably or pivotally connecting the lever I2 to the hood II, the upper portion of the hood is provided with cavities or pocket portions 32 forming bearings for receiving and pivotally mounting trunnion portions 33 on one end of the lever I2. The trunnion portions 33 are insertable into position when the lever is angled to the full line position shown in Fig. 3, where its upper or inner face substantially abuts the top wall or inwardly extending flange 34 of the hood I I, said trunnion portions 33 then being adapted to slip past the lugs 35 depending from the wall 34 of the hood. The lugs 35 referred to partially define the pockets or cavities 32, said trunnions 33 preferably being not completely cylindrical but cut away, as indicated at 35, whereby they clear the lugs 35 when in the full line position shown in Fig. 3. In the same Way, the curved walls 37 partially defining the cavities 32 are discontinued, as indicated at 33, so as to provide the necessary clearance for permitting insertion and removal of the trunnions 33 on the lever I2. The top wall 34, by overlying the lever I2, limits angling thereof beyond the full line position shown in Fig. 3, as will be understood. In order to maintain the Weight of the lever I2 at a minimum, the trunnions 33 and the connecting portion 39 thereof are preferably hollow or grooved, as indicated at 40, with rigidifying ribs 4I extending from the main portion of the lever I2.

Inorder to resiliently urge the lever I2 into engagement with the lug 4 for holding the lid in open or closed position, resilient means`I3, desirably taking the form of a coil or helical spring, is provided, disposed between said hood and lever, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 2 and 3. In order to properly center the spring and maintain it in the desired relation with respect to the hood and lever, the hood is desirably formed with an inwardly opening pocket 43 defined by an annular flange 44 extending inwardly from the inner surface of the hood II, a flat seating surface 45 being desirably provided inside the periphery of the flange 44 and the central portion beyond said surface being desirably cut away, as indicated as 46, to conserve material. The free or lower end of the lever I 2 is likewise desirably provided with a spring positioning flange 4l adapted to fit inside of the spring, whereby said spring is held in proper relation with respect to both the hood and lever. When the lid is pivotally mounted on the box, as, for example, by means of the pin or other connecting means 6 which extends through apertures 43 in the hood I I, and through the pivot aperture 5 in the lug, the spring I3 presses the lever I2 or the flat portion 49 thereof against the hinge lug 4 and thereby serves to hold the lid in open or 'closed position, depending on Whether the engagement is with the ilat face 9 or with the flat face 8 of said lug, as will be understood.

From the foregoing disclosure, the manner of assembling and the operation of the lid, it is thought, will be apparent, especially as Fig. 3 clearly shows how the lever I2 is inserted and assembled with respect to the hood II, the full line position of the lever indicating the preliminary position and the dot-and-dash lines indicating the position after the trunnions 33 of the lever have been fitted into the pockets 32 and the lever swung downwardly to engage the actuating spring I3. After such assembly, the lower end of the hood I I may, of course, be applied over the lug 20 of the cover and the pivot member or rivet 22 applied. The assembled lid may then be fitted over the lug 4 on the box until the apertures 48 in the hood I I register with the aperture 5 in the lug, when the hinging pintle or rivet 6 may be applied. Y

From a consideration of the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved articulated lid for journal boxes involving movably connected cover, hood and lever portions with resilient means for urging the lever into operative engagement with the hinging lug of an associated box. Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug with angularly arranged faces, an articulated .lid pivotedthereto and including a hood, a cover pivoted to said hood, a lever pivoted at one end to said hood at a point spaced from the pivotal connection between the cover and hood, and. spring means engaging the other end portion of said lever, interposed between the lever and hood and disposed between the points at which the cover and lever are pivoted to the hood, said lever being adapted to coact with the angular surfaces on the lug for maintaining the lid in open or closed position.

2. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug, an articulated lid comprising a hood, a cover pivoted to said hood adjacent one end of the hood .and a substantially straight. lever pivoted to said hood adjacent the other end, said hood and lever having spring centering portions normally oppositely disposed, the spring .centering portion on the lever being disposed adjacent the free end, and a helical spring seated on said portions and acting transversely of the length of the lever to urge it against said lug for holding the lid in open or closed position.

. .3. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug provided With angularly disposed faces,

an articulated lid including a cover normally closing the journal box opening, a hood and a lever, said hood being movably connected to the outer face of the cover and formed with pocketed portions adjacent the upper end thereof, said lever having trunnion portions fitting in said `pocketed portions of the hood for pivotally connecting said lever and hood, said lever extending downwardly from said pocketed portions over said lug, and spring means interposed between the lever and hood for urging them apart and causing the lever to engage the hinge lug.

4i. A journal box lidcomprising a hood with a cover and a substantially straight lever pivotally connected thereto at different points, spring means acting between a side of said lever and said hood, and means on the hood overlying the lever and adapted to'engage a side thereof for limiting movement .of said lever with respect to said hood.

5. An articulated lid for journal boxes comprising a hood, a cover pivoted to said hood Aadjacent one end and a substantially straight lever pivoted to said hood adjacent the other end, said hood and lever having spring centering portions normally oppositely disposed, and a helical spring seated on said portions and acting to urge the .lever away from said hood.

6.`An articulated journal box lid including a cover, a hood and a lever, said cover being connected to the hood adjacent the lower' end thereof and the lever having its normally upper end portion connected to the hood.

7. An articulated lid for journal boxes including a cover adapted to normally close the journal box opening and a substantially straight lever and hood, said hood being movably connected to the cover adjacent the central portion thereof and the lever movably mounted on the hood above the connection between the hood and cover and extending downwardly therefrom, and spring means interposed between and acting against a side of the lever and said hood.

8. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug, an articulated lid pivotally connected thereto, said lid including a hood and a lever with upper portions thereof pivotally connected, said lid also including a cover movably connected to the hood at a point different from the connection with the lever, and resilient means acting on said lever.

9. In combination with a `journal box having a hinge lug, an articulated lid including a cover, a hood and a lever, said cover being connected to the hood adjacent the lower end thereof and the upper end portion of the lever being connected to the hood, means pivoting the lid to the hinge lug, and spring means acting between the lever and hood. l f

10. A journal box lid comprising a hood, a cover pivoted to said hood, a lever with its normally upper end portion pivoted to said hood at a point adjacent the upper edge of the hood, and spring means interposed between the lever and hood, said lever being adapted to coact with a hinge lug on an associated journal box.

11. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug, an articulated lid pivoted thereto and including a cover normally entirely closing the journal box opening and a lever and hood, said hood being pivoted to the cover adjacent the central portion thereof and the lever pivoted to the hood above the connection between the hood and cover and normally extending downwardly from the point of pivotal connection, and spring means interposed between and acting in a direction generally normally to the outer side wall of the hood, against the lever and a portion of said lid, for urging the lever into engagement with the hinge lug for holding the lid in open or closed position.

12. An articulated lid comprising a cover adapted to close a journal box opening, a hood and a lever, said hood being movably connected to the outer face of the'cover and pocketed above the lower portion thereof, said lever having a portion movably mounted in said pocket'ed portion, and spring means housed by said hood for actuating said lever, said lever normally extending downwardly from said movably mounted portion between said hood and cover, and said spring means acting, generally normal to the plane of the outer side wall of said hood, against a side of said lever near its lower end.

GLENN F. COUCH. 

